Family and Education

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Biography

Wiseman’s early life is obscure. During the 1560s he was granted a number of wardships, and was associated in land transactions with Thomas Andrews I and Bartholomew Kemp, both of whom were connected with Sir Nicholas Bacon† and were mentioned in his will. Wiseman was himself known to the lord keeper, as appears from a licence of 20 May 1566 granting Sir Nicholas Bacon, Andrews and Wiseman permission to alienate the manor of Ingham in Suffolk. Bacon was a member of a small puritan group at court, which included the 2nd Earl of Bedford, and which had sought to have well-disposed Members returned to the first two Elizabethan Parliaments. It seems possible, therefore, that it was Bedford (probably through Sir Nicholas Bacon) who nominated Wiseman for the seat made vacant at Plympton by the death of Thomas Percy.

By 1570, when he was appointed escheator for Oxfordshire and Berkshire, Wiseman presumably resided in Berkshire. He outlived his eldest son William, who died in 1603. Earlier in the same year, on 3 June, Wiseman made his will. After a short religious preamble, in which he stated that he was ‘firmly hoping and believing to be saved through the merits and passion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’, he expressed a desire to be buried beside his wife in Steventon church. There were bequests to relatives and friends, as well as a bequest of £5 to form a stock for the poor of Steventon, and £2 as a stock for the poor of Wolston. His son Charles, the executor, proved the will on 13 June 1605, Wiseman having died on 24 Mar.3

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: A. M. Mimardière

Notes

1. Did not serve for the full duration of the Parliament; Folger, V. b. 298.